Vietnamese Sugarcane Shrimp Skewers with Sweet Chili Sauce

Grilled shrimp wrapped around sugarcane sticks, served with a sweet and tangy chili sauce.

This Vietnamese classic combines sweet, juicy sugarcane with savory shrimp, grilled to perfection and served with a delightful sweet chili dipping sauce.

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Shrimp Paste

400g raw shrimp

peeled and deveined

1 tablespoon fish sauce

2 cloves garlic

minced

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

For the Skewers

8 pieces of sugarcane

peeled and cut into 4-inch sticks

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

for brushing

For the Sweet Chili Sauce

1/2 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 clove garlic

minced

1 red chili

finely chopped

Preparation

Marinating the Shrimp

Combine ingredients

In a food processor, combine shrimp, fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and white pepper.

Process to paste

Pulse until the mixture becomes a smooth paste.

Chill

Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Chilling helps the paste firm up, making it easier to handle.

Preparing the Sugarcane

Cut sticks

Peel and cut sugarcane into sticks, ensuring they are uniform in size.

Soak

Soak sugarcane pieces in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.

If using bamboo skewers, soak for at least 1 hour.

Dry

Remove and pat dry before use.

Cooking Process

Forming Skewers

Take a small amount of shrimp paste and wrap it around each sugarcane stick evenly.

Chill your hands or use a little oil to prevent sticking.

Grilling Skewers

Preheat grill to medium heat, brush skewers with vegetable oil, and grill until golden and cooked through (10–12 minutes).

Sweet Chili Sauce

Combine rice vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, garlic, and chili in a small saucepan. Simmer on low heat until sugar dissolves and sauce thickens slightly.

Plating & Serving

Vietnamese Sugarcane Shrimp Skewers with Sweet Chili Sauce

FaConciergeBell

Serving

Serve the skewers on a platter with a small bowl of sweet chili sauce in the center.

Sauce Pairings

Sweet Chili Sauce

A perfect balance of sweetness, heat, and tang.

Garnishes & Accompaniments

Fresh cilantroLime wedges

Perfect Sides

Jasmine rice

Pickled vegetables